Narrated footage from the Skull and Bones tutorial leaked online in the very early hours today. The game, based off of the naval combat fans largely enjoyed in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, has seemingly been stuck in development hell for the past six years. The game was last officially shown off at E3 2018.
Skull and Bones was first revealed at E3 2017, with more footage shown at E3 2018. News about the game fell off a cliff, with the last official update coming in 2019 when a delay of the game pushed it into a nebulous 2020 release. With 2020 having obviously come and gone, the fate of the game was up in the air.
New footage made its way online that shows off about six minutes of narrated gameplay footage, presumably from a tutorial video for Skull and Crossbones. The footage explains how players will complete contracts for NPCs that will allow them to reach higher ranks and unlock new upgrades for their ships or unlock entirely new ship designs. You will need to stock up on supplies such as "rations, water, repair kits, and ammunition" before setting sail.
If your ship is destroyed, or if your NPC filled crew decides to mutiny, you will lose rank and respawn somewhere else. Wrecks can be salvaged by you or other players in the game world.
Skull and Bones seems to place a big emphasis on crafting. This means that there will be a lot of things to harvest, including lumber, animal hides, and ore. These materials can then be refined at the social hub into other materials. You will unlock blueprints that can be used to craft ship upgrades, better weapons, and furniture.
From what we have seen, there doesn't seem to be any "on foot" action as you may have hoped for. Nor does there seem to be any sort of sword combat or parkour or unscripted boarding of ships. Maybe this is in the game and simply not highlighted in the six-minute video, or maybe it will be added before release. But if you want some high-seas combat with added exploration and combat, Sea of Thieves still looks like your best bet.
Skull and Bones was supposed to be a live service title, so it is expected to grow and evolve after release. Speaking of which, some reports say that the game may be out this September but with all things concerning this game's development I wouldn't hold my breath for that either.
Sadly, the footage was taken down, presumably at Ubisoft's request. Thankfully, Wccftech transcribed the entire video narration, which we'll also share below.
Welcome to Skull & Bones, a world inspired by the Indian Ocean during the Golden Age of Piracy. You'll start your journey as an underdog whose goal is to become the most infamous pirate to sail these waters. Journey to the pirate den of Sainte-Anne located in the Red Isle.
This centre of pirate activity is where you can craft new ships and equipment, provision for your expedition at sea, pick up high-risk, high-reward contracts, and socialize with other players.
As a pirate, your reputation is everything, and Skull & Bones tracks this through Infamy. The higher your Infamy, there more opportunities you'll unlock. One of the many ways to grow your Infamy is to take up contracts.
These are deals you can make with the NPCs in the world which can have great rewards if you're successful or penalties if you fail. Certain contracts can be shared, allowing you take them on in a group of up to three.
You can also gain Infamy by completing other activities such as exploration, plundering, treasure hunts, big worlds events, and much more.
Any pirate worth their salt will tell you that preparation is key to successful expedition at sea, so always ensure that your ship's cargo is well stocked with rations, water, repair kits, and ammunition.
As a pirate captain, it's also important for you to look the part, so before venturing out don't forget to visit the atelier to put the finishing touches on your individual look. Once you're ready, head out and explore!
As a rookie pirate, you only have access to a small dhow, but as your Infamy rises, you'll be able to craft bigger and stronger ships, each with their own unique playstyle.
At sea, you'll need to pay close attention to your ship's health and crew morale. You can recover health by using the repair kits in your cargo. Crew morale also depletes over time. Your crew will mutiny and take control of your ship if you do not give them food or drinks to restore morale.
If your ship sinks, you'll lose some Infamy and respawn at the nearest discovered den or outpost. The good news is that most of your cargo will be recovered and you'll have the opportunity to retrieve the rest from the wreckage, but you'd better be quick, as other players can also steal it.
The world of Skull & Bones is filled with riches and resources that you'll be able to gather and harvest as you explore. Lagoons and rivers are teeming with dangerous wildlife that you can hunt for animal skins and meat.
You'll also be able to harvest a variety of raw materials such as ore, fiber, and wood. These can be refined in Sainte-Anne to produce crafting resources. Crafting is an essential activity for you to progress as an infamous pirate.
Unlock blueprints and use your refined resources to craft stronger ships, weapons, and furniture. These give a range of perks including higher hull HP, greater damage attacks, and faster sailing. With your new fleet and growing arsenal, optimize your ship's loadout based on your personal playstyle and objectives to improve your chances of success.
Out in the open ocean, opportunities are abundant. Use the spyglass to identify trade routes or wealthy merchant ships and assess your prey's cargo and firepower. Strategize a plan of attack based on your opponent's defenses and take advantage of their weak points to deal more damage.
Sinking your foes from afar rewards you with only a portion of their cargo, as some of it will be lost to the depths. Getting in close to execute a boarding maneuver will help you to maximize your gains.
But beware. You can turn from predator to prey in a heartbeat if you attract the unwanted attention of other players or of privatees, the vicious pirate hunters that patrol the seas.
As you explore, be sure to keep an eye out for outposts scattered across the map. Outposts are safe spots where you can dock your ship for a short reprieve from the perilous seas. Visit vendors hawking their wares, cook food, and store your valuable cargo in the cache.
Although all the content in Skull & Bones can be done solo, you might enjoy ruling the seas with your friends. While sailing, you can easily invite fellow pirates to group up using your spyglass. Synergize your different playstyles, ships, and weapons to defeat deadlier enemies.
As you grow stronger, take on more difficult challenges such as attacking forts and plundering settlements, and if you're bold enough, engage in world events like taking down heavily laden merchant ships and their fleet of warship escorts.
This centre of pirate activity is where you can craft new ships and equipment, provision for your expedition at sea, pick up high-risk, high-reward contracts, and socialize with other players.
As a pirate, your reputation is everything, and Skull & Bones tracks this through Infamy. The higher your Infamy, there more opportunities you'll unlock. One of the many ways to grow your Infamy is to take up contracts.
These are deals you can make with the NPCs in the world which can have great rewards if you're successful or penalties if you fail. Certain contracts can be shared, allowing you take them on in a group of up to three.
You can also gain Infamy by completing other activities such as exploration, plundering, treasure hunts, big worlds events, and much more.
Any pirate worth their salt will tell you that preparation is key to successful expedition at sea, so always ensure that your ship's cargo is well stocked with rations, water, repair kits, and ammunition.
As a pirate captain, it's also important for you to look the part, so before venturing out don't forget to visit the atelier to put the finishing touches on your individual look. Once you're ready, head out and explore!
As a rookie pirate, you only have access to a small dhow, but as your Infamy rises, you'll be able to craft bigger and stronger ships, each with their own unique playstyle.
At sea, you'll need to pay close attention to your ship's health and crew morale. You can recover health by using the repair kits in your cargo. Crew morale also depletes over time. Your crew will mutiny and take control of your ship if you do not give them food or drinks to restore morale.
If your ship sinks, you'll lose some Infamy and respawn at the nearest discovered den or outpost. The good news is that most of your cargo will be recovered and you'll have the opportunity to retrieve the rest from the wreckage, but you'd better be quick, as other players can also steal it.
The world of Skull & Bones is filled with riches and resources that you'll be able to gather and harvest as you explore. Lagoons and rivers are teeming with dangerous wildlife that you can hunt for animal skins and meat.
You'll also be able to harvest a variety of raw materials such as ore, fiber, and wood. These can be refined in Sainte-Anne to produce crafting resources. Crafting is an essential activity for you to progress as an infamous pirate.
Unlock blueprints and use your refined resources to craft stronger ships, weapons, and furniture. These give a range of perks including higher hull HP, greater damage attacks, and faster sailing. With your new fleet and growing arsenal, optimize your ship's loadout based on your personal playstyle and objectives to improve your chances of success.
Out in the open ocean, opportunities are abundant. Use the spyglass to identify trade routes or wealthy merchant ships and assess your prey's cargo and firepower. Strategize a plan of attack based on your opponent's defenses and take advantage of their weak points to deal more damage.
Sinking your foes from afar rewards you with only a portion of their cargo, as some of it will be lost to the depths. Getting in close to execute a boarding maneuver will help you to maximize your gains.
But beware. You can turn from predator to prey in a heartbeat if you attract the unwanted attention of other players or of privatees, the vicious pirate hunters that patrol the seas.
As you explore, be sure to keep an eye out for outposts scattered across the map. Outposts are safe spots where you can dock your ship for a short reprieve from the perilous seas. Visit vendors hawking their wares, cook food, and store your valuable cargo in the cache.
Although all the content in Skull & Bones can be done solo, you might enjoy ruling the seas with your friends. While sailing, you can easily invite fellow pirates to group up using your spyglass. Synergize your different playstyles, ships, and weapons to defeat deadlier enemies.
As you grow stronger, take on more difficult challenges such as attacking forts and plundering settlements, and if you're bold enough, engage in world events like taking down heavily laden merchant ships and their fleet of warship escorts.
